Karen White, a kindergarten teacher in a strong Protestant community, informed her parents and students that she could no longer lead certain activities or participate in certain projects because they were religious in nature, according to her newly acquired affiliation with Jehovah's Witnesses. This meant she could no longer decorate the classroom for holidays or plan for gift exchange during Christmas. She could not sing "Happy Birthday" or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Parents protested, and Bill Ward, the school principal, recommended her dismissal based on her ineffectively meeting the needs of her children.

1. What happens next?
2. What grounds does Bill Ward have to recommend dismissal?
3. Are these valid grounds? Is so, why? If not, why not?
4. If Karen White is an otherwise competent and effective teacher, how defensible can the principal's charges be?
5. Is the school in violation of Karen's religious rights? Why? Why not?
6. How do you think the courts would rule in this case?
7. Provide a rationale for your response to question 6.